Got Time Management? Let's Start With Keeping Sane

Close to a month ago I put myself in the dunce cap, which I am still in by the way if anyone cares to know, because I was doing so horribly at balancing all the gajillion things I need to do. Well, one of my readers read my rant and has offered up some tips to share with me and the rest of you fab people who pay me some mind (thanks my love doves). I'm so excited, because I'm still a certified "Hot Mess" and could use all the help I can get (preferably a personal assistant, but that's not an option right now). I'm thrilled to introduce you to my first guest blogger EVER, Katia Suero, and her excellent article "Juggling Life".

Juggling Life
by Katia Suero

While scarfing down my lunch (this time, a very healthy salad and a not so healthy creamy chicken chowder), I pulled out my handy dandy notebook and jotted down all of the things I had “pending” for the weekend- YES! For the W.E.E.K.E.N.D! You may say, “but the weekend?” Long gone are the days when the weekends were used to relax, to watch movies, spend time with friends, SLEEP, get your nails did…and so on. The weekends have become (to most of us) the “catch up” series of our lives, where we try to fit in everything we couldn’t do during the week.  We squeeze in the laundry, the food shopping, the cleaning, the tedious bill payments, the rushed hour with our DVR’s, the time when we do our text catching up with mom or dad…yes TEXTING…we can no longer afford to call and hold a conversation as time is too scarce; it escapes from our hands and before we realize it Sunday night is before us and it is time to do it all over again.

I sat back and thought about my dear friend’s blog post about her journey back to wellness. I remembered how much those words resonated with me as I thought of the many challenges, I, she and the rest of us face when making an effort to live healthy lives; to eat the “right” things, to exercise, to simply live well. I can tell she struggles just as much as I do to maintain a balanced life style and if for me it means jotting down my pending businesses during my lunch hour on a Friday afternoon while to her it meant getting up every time after an injury and making sure she squeezed in the time to get moving and to remind herself how important it was to make the time for those fruit smoothies and 1 hour DVD’s.

It is an evident factor that in today’s society, we live in a constant rush to accomplish as much as we can in the shortest amount of time. If you, as I did, sit down and take one moment to think, you will realize your heart beats as if speeding in a race…a race against time. We want to make it all happen for ourselves and for others. We want to feel accomplished. We want to show our kids and spouse’s that YES WE CAN…but how much could we truly make happen in a day’s span that would truly make us feel good at the end of the day? Why, instead of feeling this huge sense of accomplishment, do I feel completely exhausted and without the energy to be able to think by the time my head hits the pillow? We are completely overly exerting ourselves and all we do about it is keep going just like the energizer bunny.  It’s like a vicious cycle we keep feeding and we keep hoping it will blossom into something someday soon. In the meantime, we down the java on the way to work, we carry around our daily planners, berries, nooks, and droids…we power up with energy drinks and we pretend to be unbeatable at the face of delayed LIRRS, PATHS and subway, grab a snickers bar on the way to the afternoon meeting, we try some green tea for sake of health, we overdose on vitamin C and Zinc at the sign of a sneeze…all we can do, to simply keep moving.

I am no expert.  I am another New Yorker trying to make it through the noise of the city that never sleeps. One that has often become one of its zombies. I try to remind myself to stop and breath. I use my writing as my time of meditation, as MY time to slow down and take a moment to look around me as life rapidly flashes before my eyes like lightening.

 I have gathered a few tips that I feel have helped me on some days, not ALWAYS, and want to share with the rest of you hardworking people trying to simply make it before the Friday night crash.


They are as follows:

• Take a moment to BREATH. Truly it works

• Disconnect your brain. As non-ethical as this sounds in the work place, it works wonders for me to think about that date on Saturday night or that take out I have waiting for me in the fridge while the CFO talks about revenue expectations (hehehe)

• If possible, disconnect from the net. We think of it as a tool always, but the web can very much be a source of tension and stress. Step away from the laptop. Practice this by 5 minute increments daily, you will see, it’s not as difficult as it seems.

• Give yourself something to look forward to. A yummy treat at the end of the day, a ½ hour with your favorite reality TV show, a Pinkaberry moment…anything that makes you smile!

These are simple enough, and you may say, “How can they help me balance my day?” BUT: The idea is that you have a moment to recharge, a moment to seize and re-program yourself, and an opportunity to prioritize… and for the sake of keeping your sanity, enjoy some of what the day can bring!

Stay well, smiling, and healthy,

Katia

Katia Suero is a Bilingual Freelance Online Content Writer. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Katia arrived in NYC at the age of 11 and has grown to become an energetic, multifaceted, and motivated professional who considers freelance writing one of her biggest outlets in life. In addition to writing, Katia has spent her professional career working for communities in need of support and help through organizations like The Partnership at DrugFree.org, Tiny Stars, American Red Cross, and others. Among many of her passions, writing and traveling are on the top of her list.

She enjoys staying active by practicing yoga and exercising.  Her inspirations include her family and desire to become an active participant in her community every day. She is strongly involved in spreading knowledge regarding Women’s Issues and Rights and educating the public about Human Trafficking campaigns. She has also used some of her time in between jobs to travel to places like England, Italy, France and The Czech Republic where she taught English and Spanish to children at the elementary level.

Before gaining all of her experience in the world of non-profits, Katia acquired a Master’s Degree from Pace University focusing on Public Administration for Non-Profits and a Bachelor’s Degree on Language Culture and World Trade also from Pace University. 

I'm baaaaaack, missed me? I'm sure you didn't with all this interesting info! I just want to close this off by thanking you all for reading and I hope this inspires you to take the steps necessary to lead a balanced life. Don't be hard on yourself, remember, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson wasn't built overnight, so neither will be rebuilding our lives into such a masterpiece. That baby took nine months to bake in the oven boys and girls, so maybe, juuuust maybe, you can try and set yourself up on a monthly goal plan for the next nine months and see what you got in the end! And let's be original, start now, NOT January 2, 2012!

Now that you all are hopefully inspired and on a time management kick, you'll need to read Listen to Your Body, on Fun.Fit.Chic.

Besos, Beijos, Filakia, MUAH!

Lisa xo

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And last but not least, PLEASE support artists featured on Circle of Art Movement by following the  site, retweeting the articles and checking out some phenomenal talent! 

Cheers to Giveaways & Great Sales On Great Sites This Schizophrenic Winter!

Summer, Fall, Winter, whatever the weather may feel like to you, the calender is still running on it's own time and no matter which way you slice the pumpkin pie, time says: 'Tis the season to be giving (don't look at me, I didn't make up that rule, I say do it year round. Shooooot!). Great blogs such as Adventures of Modern Mom (in collaboration with the ever so talented Louise Cazley) & Kimberly Snyder, all year round bloggin' givers I should add, are kicking off the season by hosting giveaways on their fab blogs!

In addition to the great giveaways are great deals from independent designers and artisans. I LOVE handcrafted things and they make the most meaningful and one of a kind gifts! One of my favorite artisans, Olga Ayala, is giving 20% off in her Etsy Shop with the promo code: PROMO1313. Olga creates a plethora of Latin and African inspired functional art, jewelry, accessories, ornaments, home decor and other wearables. Check her out for some very unique Holiday gifts or jump start the winter season by treating you or your loved ones with one of her hand made neck warmers which are finished off with one of her fabulous polymer clay designs. Please scroll on down and clickety click on the pics to redirect yourself to where you want to go!

To win this gorgeous red infinity scarf made by Louise Cazley, author of Falling Into Place & Undies in a Bunch, please click on the image below to visit the fabulous and fun blog Adventures of Modern Mom to find out the simple steps to submit your entry! These two are a great duo, you'll be in for a treat with all the great stories they have to tell as well as some gorgeous winter outerwear made by talented hands!

Now that you've entered for a chance to win warmth in ultimate fabulosity by entering Adventures of Modern Mom blog's giveaway, your next step is to enter for a chance to win a Vitamin 5200 Blender from nutritionist Kimberly Snyder. Your scarf will keep you warm and while you're shielding yourself from the bitter cold within your four walls you can treat your body to the ultimate amount of nutrients by preparing yourself fresh juices and fruit smoothies with this "make it simpler" blender. And if you are not going to make them, then back off and leave the odds greater for those of us who will ;) Seriously. <--I mean that in the cutest way possible.

And last but certainly not least, you've had the opportunity to receive, now don't forget what's expected of us in America this time of year. It's giving time mi gente! What is this you speak of? Your credit cards are still maxed from last years holiday season? Boy do I hear ya!  That don't mean a thing to whoever made up these rules baby dolls, but I'll tell you this much, my dollar is going to the people; the indie talent get the dollar! Get your shopping on early with Olga Ayala's Hecho a Mano (made by hand) November discount. I know you'll be greedy and want to grab yourself something...go ahead, you're worth it! Check out the variety of handmade high quality items Olga has to offer and enjoy a 20% discount at the check out with promo code: PROMO1313 Click on the pic below and if you want some fab ideas on how to wear some of her things check out my article later this week on Nifty Thrifty Stylist Closet and 3 oldies, but goodies, in the archives of the "Arteseña" section of this here blog. 

Thank you for reading baby dolls and hope you have a supercalafradulistic start to what's starting off as a supercalafradulistically schizophrenic winter!

Besos, Beijos, Filakia, MUAH!

Lisa xo

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Yum Shaker Recipe Share: Cinnamon Spinach? Why thank you SER by Eduardo Life!

The one veggie I've NEVER denied, from my baby food days up to my salad and spanakopita days, is spinach. Thanks to you Popeye!

Cinnamon, check. Spinach, check. An appetite, permanent check (come on, this is me we are talking about here).

Yum Shaker is probably my favorite part of this blog, yet the least nurtured (just showing it some Kindergarten Crush Love). Today I am showering it with love by sharing a post by my dear friend Eduardo, author of the blog SER. It will take you two seconds to make this and, naturally, my Eduardito's posts would never be complete without educating us on the health benefits of cinnamon. I love how he's always so informative, interesting and oh so peaceful (if you are reading this, I miss you my love!). I so aim to live an Eduardo life (minus vegetarianism) and am totally a groupie. As a matter of fact, unknown to him, I'm his biggest groupie (from afar, since I live so far). After this post, I will be adding cinnamon into my diet much more often! Clickety click on the pic, read on and eat on! 

Thank you for reading!

Besos, Beijos, Filakia, MUAH!

Love,

Lisa xo

I've Put Myself In A Dunce Cap

Okay, so I've been M.I.A in my position as Social Media Whore. Shoot me. Um, on second thought, don't...take that literally... The truth is, I've just been swamped taking care of things that I have either neglected and/or absolutely need to get done. So I owe all that have been so supportive in keeping up with me here and reading my rants and stuff a big fat apology. Here is the big fat apology: APOLOGY. I have been naughty.

The truth is, I have an issue with balancing and not the body coordination kind. Well, that too, but that's not what this is about. I have an issue with balancing all the things I need to do! So I'm putting myself in the dunce cap and putting myself to work on other things and balancing this into it in the meanwhile. I love so much to write about what's on my mind, share fun info with my friends and tell everyone what is going on, buuuuuut, I'm going to have to do it like once a week :/ I suffer from wanting to socialize daily (bring out the violins).

On the up note, it's for good reason! Here's the deal. Before I started this personal blog, I began a plan to start a website, which will now be a blog, called Circle of Art Movement. I will tell you more about that later, but now it is starting to materialize and there are other people involved who are counting on me to release certain material within a reasonable amount of time. In brief, Circle of Art Movement (CAM Project) follows my work on photo shoots and incorporates field work of various artists of the material culture (jewelry designers, hat designers, clothing, etc.) The initial inspiration came from the desire to help aspiring designers by incorporating their work into photo shoots which would in turn provide them with professional photos of their work and expand the amount of portfolios they'd be in (mine, photographers, make-up artists, etc.). In turn, they'd be walking portfolios of all involved as well, hence, Circle of Art Movement. You will be seeing the first article no later than Monday of next week, if not sooner. On October 28th, you'll see how this idea inspired by material culture has already expanded itself into other realms of art pretty quickly and I'm happy about that! It's in the foundation stages, but I will be learning, perfecting and evolving as we go along. Please follow Circle of Art Movement on Facebook, Twitter and Blogspot to watch this baby grow with me!

The second is, well, I've been enlisted as a stylist for photo shoots the past few years, been asked for years to start a blog with my outfits so people can get ideas, plus have always longed to have a shop and be a personal shopper of sorts. Also, I've had the opportunity to work with an accomplished stylist who often calls me in for accessorizing and second opinion, therefore, I need to pay some mind to this (it's a sign!). So, slowly but surely I am doing it, but this has been the most challenging of all! I have so many ideas and not enough time to write them down! I have so much crap flying across what used to be a comfy bedroom that I can't even concentrate! I get outfits together and then have no one to take a picture of me (and shush up, if you saw my room, you know tri-podding it in here is not an option among other obstacles beyond my control). To top it off, I know as much about starting a website shop as Shrek the ogre knows about deodorant, so I don't get as much as I'd like done in the time available to me. However, somehow, someway, I will make it happen and have already played around some with  posts and products and  you can check that out on the Nifty Thrifty Stylist Closet's Facebook Fan Page and Nifty Thrifty Stylist Closet on Blogspot. Please join so you can be kept up to date with my progress, the things I will be selling, whatever and whoever I will be writing about in the (mostly non-famous) fashion world and of course, if you know anyone who may need a stylist/image consultant or a personal shopper, ya got my number ;)

And last, but not least, I have been desperately looking for work, spending up to 3 hours daily applying. My main interest is in being a live in house manager or housekeeper, because then I can do all the things I love to do. Cook, clean, organize, shop, take care of people...and you can make a very decent living doing this. BUT NO ONE WANTS TO HIRE ME! Lol. Finding work where I am located has been very difficult. Finding work that fulfills me in general, has been even more difficult. But a change needs to be made, I am very unhappy with my current situation, the work that I do, and the fact that the pay forces me to stay living with family and even with a second job...no bueno. My move two years ago may have not been for the best, I kind of made myself stuck between a rock and a wall...or hard place...or...how the hell does that expression go?!?! Either way, I need to get myself up and out and making better with my life STAT!

So there you have it my peeps, some of the reasons why I'm putting my bootay in the dunce cap and in the corner. I'm working my toosh off until I get my crap in order and have myself in a healthier place in life.

Thank you so much to those of you who have been reading and don't forget me while I am writing less!!!

Besos, Beijos, Filakia, MUAH!

Love,

Lisa xo

Something good comes out of everything, just have a little faith, life will eventually connect the dots.

This past Thursday I had the most supercalafradulistically wonderful day that I have had in the longest time! After almost a month of applying for jobs (probably hundreds which took almost all of my free time) I finally got an interview. One of the reasons I haven't been able to take a job in the city is because it will be a long while before I will have saved enough to actually move close to the city to work. My commute from here is no joke and will without a doubt interfere with job performance and therefore advancement. However, this job would require me to live on the premises as I would need to manage a lot of the work in the house and assist in multiple businesses, so I didn't feel like I was trekking out for the interview for nothing. Similar to the dating mentality, 400 applicants, around 25 interviews and only one job available, I know my chances are slim but it was the best.interview. ever...EVER!!! The interview conversation was very inspiring and my potential employer seems like one of the most genuine, diverse, interesting and down to earth people I have ever met on a professional level. Even better, the type of work I'd be doing is all in areas of business I enjoy; domestic, art, antiques and cars. Yes, I love cars, I love driving, so those who know me, shut the jaw I know I don't know much about them but I'll learn if I get the job and am blessed with the opportunity to get educated on it while on the job!

Anyway, although I didn't have that "I got this!!!" type of feeling when I left, I felt great and extremely happy. It was an inspiring interview conversation and was one step towards the right direction. Well, I took those steps back to the subway skipping. On the return trip to Astoria I was smiling, enjoying all of the people around me and even laughing all by my daaaamn self...which had absolutely nothing to with the cocktail I sucked up at the end of the interview. I swear on a wad of chewed up gum. Yes, I even got a drink at the interview, SHUT UP!! 

To make this day even luckier, not one, but TWO of my acquaintances were available to grab a bite with me before my long drive home. I'll skip all the major introductions since I don't have pretty pictures to entertain, but my two victims of the evening were the lovely Cindy, cousin of a long time friend of mine, and the other lovely was Delyana. It was the first time I had seen Delyana since we met almost two years ago in December of 2009 at the grand opening of Staykova Boutique. We picked up as if we had seen each other regularly for the past two years, just the same as the night we met. As if we've known each other forever. Without a doubt, we agreed, we are soul sisters.

Spending time with Delyana and Cindy was so much fun and so refreshing. The conversation was great, we laughed a ton and for the first time in awhile I felt like myself; these ladies are just AMAZING company and we had a great connection. Often times, well most all of the time and only since moving back to Long Island, I feel more reserved and somewhat introverted. I hold  back a lot of myself. I know it's partially because I mainly meet people in a "professional" atmosphere and partially because I just can't relate to this lifestyle, and then there is just a whole bunch of other things. I'm not going to get into psychoanalyzing myself now, but simply, I'm uncomfortable here. Yes, I am myself, but I am not all of myself. I miss the rest of me...

Throughout the laughter and jokes, we sprinkled in some major philosophical and spiritual topics that led to how we got to where we are today, where we'd like to see ourselves and what kind of people we want to be around. Naturally, because this is soooooo Lisa, we got into the topic of how everything does happen for a reason. I truly believe that it does and that, as the popular Spanish proverb among many Cubans go, no hay mal que por bien no venga...there is nothing bad that happens in which something good does not come out of it. It just sucks Shweddy Balls that sometimes it takes a long time to figure out why, but we have to have faith that life will "connect the dots", or the analogy I normally use, that the pieces of the puzzle will eventually come together ...and you must try that ice cream by Ben and Jerry's if you haven't already, it's a life changing experience (Shweddy Balls meaning. What did you think I was talking about when I said that? Sucios!). Just pray that you are never asked to take a breathalyzer test after you eat it.

So back to "connecting the dots", everything happening for a reason, having faith and the blah blah blah talk. When that was mentioned, Delyana did the whole "Oh my God!" hands to head, big bright smile thing that we girls do when a coinky dink occurs. Her quote went something like this: "You have to watch the video I posted of Steve Jobs making a speech at a graduation years ago, just watch it, it will change your life and be the best 1o minutes spent." Well, it was 15 minutes, but yes, it was definitely a speech more than worth the time and that we should all hear. And if you haven't already, wouldn't ya know it it's conveniently located at the end of this post?! And honestly, the reason for the post.

So amidst the laughter, Cindy coincidentally knowing every person I brought up that night (yes, we too did that "Oh my Gawd!" thing we girls do too), and the yummy cocktails and food at Fatty's Cafe in Astoria, I am SO happy that our conversation turned to more serious and somewhat spiritual topics. Without a doubt, the interview and time spent with Cindy and Delyana enhanced and changed the course of my week; it was refreshing, inspiring, fun and it brought me back to me and a much needed reminder that I'm still here. It's just that life is a little bit different now and for a purpose that is much needed for a better future. Steve Jobs will clarify all that I'm talking about pretty much in the video below in one of the most inspiring stories I've ever heard.

Thank you for reading and much love to my wonderful friends and Steve Jobs and his family, may he rest in peace as his legacy lives on.

Besos, Beijos, Filakia, MUAH!

Love,

Lisa xo
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